Needle-controlling transfer means for knitting-machines.



J, H. ZENS- NEEDLE GONTROLLING TRANSFER MEANS- FOR KNITTING MACHINES.'

APPLIUATIO FILEDJUNLSO, 19M. l 5384,728. Paented Jan. 20, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SIRET el? d J. H. zBNs. u NEEDLE GONTROLLING TRANSFER MEANS FOR KNITTING MAGHINES. APPLIOATIQN FILED JUE 30, y1911.

J. H. ZBNS. l NEEDLE CONTROL-LING TRANSFER MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

I APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1911.

1 ,084, 778 Patented Jan. 2G, 1914-.

3 SHEETSWSEET 3.

. position shown in Fig.. 1. Fig. 'Tis a detail seating like parts.

.The terms needle cylinder andl cam `cylinder are throughout used in a generic UNrrED STATES PATENT oEEio'E.-

Jossrn H. zENs, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, AssIcNon To sCoTT a WILLIAMS, :NoonromrrsnL or CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION or NEW JERSEY.

NEEDLE-CONTROLLING TRANSFER MEANS FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

To all whom "it may conce-rn.'

Beit known that 1,-JosEPI-I H. ZENS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Visconsin, have invented an Improvement in Needle-Controlling Transfer Means for Kuittingdvlachines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification,1ike characters on the drawings repre- This, invention relates to needle controlling transfer means for knitting machines, particularly of the circular type.

In order thatthe principle of thein-vention may be readily understood, I. have disclosed a .single embodiment thereof inthe accompanying drawings, wherein-- Figurel is a. central vertical-section cfa circular knitting machine and showing inside eleva-tici. my invention applied thereto; Figs. 2 3- and 4. are central vertical sections of the' upper portion only of the needle andi cam cylinders ofa circular knittingmachine: showings successive positions assumed bythe needle ilinder and needles-in transferring a rih top creto; Fig. 5-is a v-iew taken at right angles-'to Fig, 1 of the mechanism for raising and lowering the. needle cylinder; and-- Fig. 6' is a view iiiv side. elevation -of theneedle. cylinder -el'evating' and lowering mechanism taken. at 18()l degrees fromther of the: elevating. meol'ianis-m.-

This invention particularly relates toV means-.for changing the relative heights of the needle and cam: cylinders of a, circular knitting machine. in the. transfer of a rib top from the. transfer ring. to the knitting: needles. While I have herein represented the needle cylinder as adjustable for the4 pur ose: stated, it is evident that the. de:v scri d relative adjustment may be effectedbyraising. and loweningthe. cam.l cylinder.

sense, as it is evident that my. invention may be applied toother types of knitting. machines wherein. needle and cam carriersof a straight orother. form are employed. The invention is, however, peculiarly adapted to circular knitting machines, and especially to those havingA latch noodles independently Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed .Tune 3G, 1911. Serial No. 636,302.

" knitting machines wherein either the needle 'upwardly therefrom to permit t reciprocable in the knitting operation. Obviously the invention may be employed in Patented Jan. '20, 1914.

cylinder or the cam cylinder is .rotated or reciprocated in the knitting operation, and it may be used in conjunction with. means acting automatically or otherwise to change the height of the needle or cam cylinders, thereby to effect change in the length of the stitches.

Referring more particularly. to thedraiw.-

ings, I have therein vrepresented in; Fig.- 1, a portion of a circular knittin machine of the 'general -type shown in t e patent to George D. Mayo, No. 726,1T8,'it being evi-- dent, however, that the in'vention is applica.4 le to anyv other type of4 machine" as 70.' previously stated. In-saidf'gure,.the'needle cylinder isindicated at 1 and' the cam oylinder ati2, these being of .any suitable type-f4 not herein necessary to describeai. Carried*- by the needle .oylinderare needles 3,-.here rsbhown as ofi the independent latch type..

u we -holder ring. 4:. having wobolde'rs 5 acported. up'on the needle c linden is a,

tuated by awebrholdervcamring -6 inther .i

ring is a` latch or yarn ring.7= .having a'fyarn.

guide 8. T h'e said ring 7 is .pivoted at 9.' upon thecam ring',- sonthet it may be swung tion of thetransfer ring, as will be readily understood. A portion of the narrowing. and widening mechanism is-indicated ait-10,.

this bein .of a type oftenshown inmachines i .built un er saidY Mayo patent. .The parts vthus far described may be of any suitable or ordinary construction and are repre'- sented merely for the purposes of; illustra- The needle cylinder: l is: provided with' a e: applicar- Surrounding l y Bolted to the said rod is` a split collar 17 having. thereon a lugA 18 shown most clearlyv m Fig. 7 as engaged by u cam 19 formed l upon the upper edge of said-sleeve 16; As

the sleeve 16 is turned in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 7, the cam 19- rides under the lug A18, thereby elevatinl the post or rod 12 arid the needle cylin er 1 withits needles, so as to bring them to the desired positions in effecting transfer of the rib topto the needles. Movement of the lever 17 in the o posite direction restores the needle cylintiizr androd 12 lto its former osition. If desired I ma in con'unction v y with the said mechanism, provide means for automatically changing the length ot' the needle cylinder at the desired times.

stitches during the knittin f operation. For urpose, I have in Ifig. 1, shown a .c am diam 20 adapted to coperate with the lever 21 in a usual manner to lelevate Ithe or this purpose, the collar 17l is provided with an ad'usting screw 22 adapted .to engage with t e upper face of said lever 21, thereby to-support therod 12 and the needle cylinder` in the desired position;

kso

` instead of merely under their hooks.- The result has been that when thelatches are first closed in the knitting operation, such needles drop their stitches;

A'under the hooks.

the o rative in fai An important feat-ure of my'invention involves the provision of'means, referabl automatic, whereb the ncedlecy inder, a ter having been e evated for the reception of the transfer ring and then havingbeeii lowered to an intermediate position, preferablyihe tuck position, fol'the transfer f the loops t the knitting needles, is then low ered to the knittin position. In the said intermediate or tuc position 'the latches of the needles are so. protectedthat the stitches of the rib top cannot be drawn below the latchesin the transfer o eration, Abut merely As a ove stated, preferably the lowering of the needle cylinder from tuck position to knitting position is efr 4fected automatically, so that carelessness -of ing to restore ther needle cylin er to knitting position cannot result inthe dropping of stitches.

In. Fig. 2, -Ihave represented theineedle cylinder as elevated for the reception of the ciV transfer rin which is placed upon thtwcb-l holders in usual manner. In order to yo'sjition the needle cylinder at -this pointt the lcve'r l'tis turned in a clockwise directidn as far as possibleits full height. In Vthis position needles are practically level.v with ti vention, the needle cylinder is dropped suili# ciently to etl'ect the pa'ssin r of the needles so as to elevate the rod 20Vto v id sinker ring.` Thereupon in accordance with' my 1n-A through the stitches of the "rib top upon' theitrans er points of the transfer ring. In or-A der that upon the return movement of the lever`17 the cylinder and needles may be brought to an intermediate position and thereafter be lowered tothe full knitting position 'in a preferably automatic manner, I have provided means adapted in this emf hodiment of my invention, tbe interposed.

between the upper face of the-lever 21 and the set screw 22 upon the collar 17 carried 'by the rod 12. 'llie precise pointat which the needle cylinder'is su ported in the interl mediate positiondepenA s upon the 'proporvtioning of the parts and may be varied with-- in the scope of my invention. Preferably,.

however, I`support the needle c linder at the. 1

tuck position as shown m'ost ceaily in Fig. 3, wherein the outer ends of the latches 23 of the needles are represented as below .the web-holders so as to prevent the stitches when transferredto the needles from being l' drawn below the points of the latches as lprc- A.

vionslyfstated. An additional and veryim'- portant advantage in positioning the needle ylinder'at the intermediate or tuck position i ws from the lfact that operatives, when transferrin e transfer of all the loops to. the needles.

the web to the'needles, fre` qliiently fai through 'carelessnessto secureflif After thet'ransferring has beengfremoved. i

from theneedle's, it is the common practice for the operative, when theneedlesare in their projected position, to pick up'the .loops that have not been properly transferred and to .place them .upon thel needles. In doing this, thereis very lgreat liability that( the loops will be pulled-from 4the adjacentl needles because such loops have come under the latches of-theneedles instead of merelv under'their hooks, as' previously'described;

When however, 'the loops are transferred in.

accordance with my invention,`.as previonslgii" described, -it .is substantially impossiblmiis when Athe operative picks up dro'p stitches,

to pull .ott' stitches from adjacent needles. While to e'ect -the desired result,I Hmay ein; 1 ploy any suitable-means,.1 have'herein're resented a split collar 24 .bolted u'pon t e rod 12 and having pivoted'thereon at 25 a' latch or lever 26 having a toe27 adapted .to

jnstig screw .22 and the lever 2l. The weight of the latch 26 is such that it tends contra-clockwise direction toitsoiiginal position, the needle cylinder is dropped, not to the knittingposition, but to an intermediate -be interposed as described between the nd- 'irse to ride underthe adjusting screw 22,-so that..- .as the handle or lever 17 is returned' .ina

or tuck position, at which position the transfer of the stitches to the needles is effected.

After the stitches have been transferred as described, the latch or yarn ring 7 is then swung downward into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, in which position the latches 23 of the needles are protected as shown and are prevented from fiyin upward or closing, thus permitting the ropping of stitches, which would have resulted had the stitches been placed below the latches of the needles. In order that the needle cylinder may now be lowered to' knittingv position, and in a preferabl automatic manner, I have provided suitab e means to engage the'latch 26 and withdraw its toe L27 from its interposed position.' For that piirpose, I have provided the said latch with an arm 28. adapted to be struck by a suitable lug or projection active upon the commencement of relative rotation of the needle andl c'am cylinders. For that purpose I h'ave .herein `represented a lug 29 carried; by or i' cy inder.

'stantia formed with a split collar 30 mounted upon 'f the main drive shaft 31 of the machine, or

'if upon the hub of the gear 32 meshin` with the gear upon the ringof the cam The position of the parts is such that vsubly immediately upon the commence` nient of rotation of Athe cani cylinder 2 the lug 31 moving in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 6, engages the arm 28, thei'eby with- '-"l'drawiug'thetoe 27v of the lever 26 from its iiiterpkisml 'position' referred to and per 1 mitting the automatic lowering of the needle cylinder into its knitting position; that is,-

' into the position shown in F ig. 4.

It is Ppfemfc-.PQ-Il) the foregoing descripll.'

tionthat I have provided simple yet efficient means which mayreadily be attached to standard parts-ofV a knitting 'machine at slight 4expense to secure 'the transfer. of

stitches from a ribtop or other webto the,

knitting needles without dropping of stitches.l It is evidentl that the automatic lowering ofthe :needle cylinder the stitch -transfer position to the knitting position will preventA alhdropping. of stitches even though the operativeshould neglect to .lower the .cylinder after the transfer of vstitches to the needles.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood 'that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitat ion, thel scopeof the invention being set forth'in the ,followingclaims. e0

combination needleand cam cylindermaneans to' impart relative rotation to the said cylinders, ineens to position the needleylinder at the tuck point to permit the transfer of the coini'.-inatic' n needle and cam 1fhnders, a

stitches to. the knitting-needles, and means acting automatically upon commencement of relative rotation ofthe needle and cam cylinders to effect the lowering of the needle p cylinder to knitting position. a

2. Knitting mechanism comprising .inn combination needle and camcylinders, means to position the needle lcylinder` forthe reception of a transfer device," means-to lower the needle cylinder 'to stitch transfer position, and' ineans additionally to lower said cylinder to'knitting posit-ion.

3. Knitting mechanismA -comprising in l lower 'the'nedle cylinder to stitch transfer n position, 'and' means a'cting automatically upon commencement of relative rotation of the needle and. cam cylinders and prior to the knitti operation, to effect the lowering 5. Knitting ,mechanism comprisingY in main drive shaft for imparting tion to said cylinders, means to. position the needle cylinder 'for the reception of a -traiisfer device-` means to lower ,the needle cylin- `der to stitch 'transfer posi-tion,"a nd 'means actuated by said main drive shaft to` eil'ect ting Aposition prior to the commencement of the knitting operation. f l v G. Knitting mechanism comprising in' combination -necdle and cam cylinders,

means to raise lthe needle cylinder for the 'ofithe nee le cylinder to. knitting 'position 95 -.the lowering of`the needle cylinderto knitrA '105 reception of a transfer device, means to 11o lower the needle' cylinder to tuck' osition for tlie transfer of the stitches to t Ye kni'tting needles, and means active upon the cominencementof relative rotation of the needle and cam cylinders, to effect the-lowering of flic needle cylinder to knitting position.

7. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination needle andrcam c liiiders, the

former having a downward pro ongation for effectingy the raising and lowering thereof,

manual means active upon said prolongation for raising said needle 4cylinder for thereception of a transfer device and for lowering the same to tuck position for the transfer of the stitches to the knitting needles, 'and 125 means automatically activeto effect the low-H @ring thereof to knitting position :it theconiineiicenieiit of the knitting operation.

8. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination needle and cani' cylinders, the l I si 1,084,778 f former having a dgwnward prolongation for effecting the raisingand lowerin thereof, -inanua1 means active upon said pro on ation for raising and lowering the needle cy inder,

5, means to arrest the lowering of said cylinder at tnck. position for thetransfer of stitches to the knitting needles and means active at the commencement of the knittin operation,

to rmit the descent ofthe needle cylinder '1o to itting position. '9.- AKnitting mechanism comprisin in combination needle and cam cylinders, atch needles therefor, a web-holder rin Aand Webholders, means to elevate thoneed e cylinder 15 and needles for the reception of a transfer ring, means to lower the needle cylinder and needles to a position where vthe points of the needle latchesare between the web-holders, for the transfer of the stitches to the needles,

'B'O'andi means automatically active upon the :commencement of relative rotation of the needle and cam cylinders, to eilect the lower v10. Knitting mechanism comprising ili atc combination -needle and cam c linders,

needles'th'erefor, a.' webhol er ring and web-holders a removable' yarn ring, means to elevate the needle cylinder and needles )b forVv the reception of a transfer ring, means 'to lower the needle cylinder and needles to l position where the oints of the needle latches are between t e web-holders, and

melena automatically effective just prior to 3 5 the commencement of the action of the stitch cani upon the n edles,`to.ei fect the lowering .ofthe needle cylinder to knitting position. n 1'1. Knittinglmechanisn'i comprising in combination needle and cam cylinders, the i .former havin iafdownward prolongation,

-a main drive s aftto effect relative rotation Vof said cylinders, manual means to' act upon saidprolongationi'thereby tol raise and lower fthe "needle lcylinder, a pivoted -device carried byaaid prolongation and adapted to be interposed to' arrest the descent of the needle cylinder at tucl'c position, and a mem- .'fber carried by'said drive shaft to displace 5d or to arrest the descent of the n eedlo cylinder at tuck position, :ind mprojectlon cnr-l -ried by said main drive shaft andV activo 'upon said latch nt substantially the com mencement of rotation of said drive shaft, to remove said latch from its interposed position and permit the descent of the needle cylinder .to knitting position.

,13. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination lneedle and .ca rn cylinders, a main drive shaft to impart relative rotation `to said cylinders, means to change the relative height of said cylinders, thereby-to position the needlesat substantially tuck elevation, and means automatically' active at' i the -commencement of 'relative rotation of said cylindersl to change the relative height of said cylinders, thereby to position the needles for the knitting operation.

14./A knittingmechanism comprising in combination, needle and cam cylinders, manual means for raising and lowering. the needle cylinders, means to arrest the lower-l ing of said cylinder at tuck position for the transfer of stitches to the knitting needles,

-and means active at the commencementof der at the tuck'point to permit the transfer .of the stitches to the knittin needIea-.and

means initiated in action by t e commencef ment of relative.- rotation of the needleand.l

cam cylinders, thereby to effectfntlie lowering of the needle cylinder to knitting positionv n v h v 16. Knittingi'echanism' comprising in combination', needle and cam cylinders,

means to position the needle cylinder for the reception of the-transfrdevice, means to lowerthe` needle cylinder to stitch trans# fer position, and means.- initiated inaction by the commencement of relativel rotation of-the needle and cant-cylinders', thereby 1o effect the lowering of 'the needle cylinder to i knittin posit-ion.. i

17. nitting mechanism' comprisin :in combination, needle and l cam: cylinders, means to position the needle cylinder for the reception of the transfer device, means to lower the needle cylinder tostitch transfer position ,-and automatically acting means additionally to change the vertical position fof thc-needle cylinder relative to the cam cylinder, thereby topiievent dropping-of stitches from the knitting needles 1n commencing the knitting `operation after transf' fer of stitches from said transfer'- device to the knitting needles.

18. Knitting mechanism comprising v:in l Vcombination needle and cam cylinders, Athe former having a downward prolongation for effecting thcl raising and lowering thereof, .manual means active upon said pro- Iongaiion for raising said needle cylinder for thereception of 'a transfer-.device and for lowering the someto tuck position for the transfer 4of the stitches to thefkitting needles, and ineens rendered active by initiation of the knittingr operation to effect the lowering of the needle cylinder to knitting positie S.

19. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination needle and cani cylinders, the former having zr downward prolongation for eiiecting the raising and lowering there of, manual means active upon said prolongation for raising said needle cylinder Jior the reception of u transfer device and for lowering the same to tuck position for the transfer of the stitches to the knitting needles` and means rendered active by ini- -tial movement of the main drive shaft 'to 'eieet the lowering of the needle cylinder to knitting position.

20. Knitting'mechanism comprising in combination needle and cani cylinders, the

former having :i downward prolongation 20 for effecting the raising and lowering thereof, manual means active upon said prolongation for raising said needle cylinder for the lowering of the needle cylinder to knitting positivo,

In testimony whereof, I have signed my naine to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH H. ZENS.

lVitnesses E. lV. BRIOKELL, EMIL QUADE. 

